Game apparatus.



R. WALTER.

GAME APPARATUS. APPLICATION men Aums. 1911.

Patented Feb. 12, 1918.

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GAME ArrARATUs.

Specificationof Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 12; 191-8.

Aiipneetien' flied aaeiet2'a 1e17; Serial No. 188,636.

Be it known ,that I, RALPH hurrah, a

. citizen of the United States, and resident ofI-Iempstea'd, in the county of Na'ssau'and State'of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Game Apparatus, o'fw'hich the'followiiigis a speciii cation.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in game appal'fatus, audit is the primary object of the invention to provide a device of this character, upon'ivhich a new and novel type of game may be played, which is very amusing, and which also employsconsiderable skill on thepart of the players. The ganie is played on a board, whichis provided with transverse stepped grooves therein to represent trenches with firingsteps, and raised portions adjacent themarginal end edges of the board to rep-' resent artillery positions. Small different sized disks are arranged on the board, in said positions to represent artillery,infantry, and machine guii'bu llets and saiddisks being movable as will be described.

Another object of'the' i11 .*e11ti('m is to'pr'o vide a device of this character, which is easily and simply constructed, inexpensive to manufacture, and one which will be very et icient in operation.

With these and numerous other objects in view, my invention consists of the novel features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts which will be hereiu after referred to and more particularly pointed out in the specification and claims.

In the accompanying drawin s" Figure 1 is a plan view of the game board;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the s'an'ie; and

Fig. 3 is a detail transverse section through one end of the's'ame.

In describing my invention I shall refer to the drawings in which similar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views.

The game apparatus"comprises asubstantially rectangular shaped game hoard 1, being provided in one side thereof, with spaced parallel transverse grooves 2, which are adapted to represent trenches. These grooves are four in number, two being spaced on each side of the transverse center of the board, and each of the grooves are provided adjacent their side wall facing the center with offset portions 3 to form steps, which Will be called firing steps. These grooves the end edges of the board.

and steps, runtransversely the length of the board, as clearlyshown in Figs. 1- and l ef the drawings.

Extendingparallel adjacentthe end mar gmal edges of the board 1, are inverted L-shaped, angular members l, which are cured to the upper surface of theboard, and'providedwith flat top portions, which are adaptedto designate raised portions, to receivethe game pieces which designate artillery. Beneath the angular members 4-, in the upper surface of the boardand behind the same, are spaced pockets 5, which are adapted to're'ceive the game pieces when the same are not in use.

A plurality of disks, similar to tiddledewinks disks, are used in playing this game, said disks being in three dillerent sizes, designated by thenumeralsb, 7, and 8, the largest disks 6 having some designation thereon, preferably the letter B, to designate batteries or artillery, while the middle disks 7, havesome designation, preferably the letter I to designate infantry. The smaller disks 8 preferably are designatet'i by the letter M to show that they are machine gun bullets.

A plurality of these disks are employed in playing the game and are used in a manner, to be hereinafter more fully described.

In playing the game, two sets of disks, numbering twenty each, one being white and the other red are employed. The large disks (3, which are designated artillery, are placed on the fiat tops of the raised portions ll at Two sets of medium disks'i. being likewise colored, are employed and are designated infant'ryrnen, these sets being-divided into four groups of live disks each, and positioned twogroups in each of the trenches on one side of the transverse center of the board. These dlsks are scattered along the trenches as desired.

The smaller disks 8, which designate the machine gun bullets, are divided similar to the other group and areplaced onthefiring" steps 3 adjacent the tops of the trenches.

The manner of moving the disks is similar to the manner in which tiddledewinks disks are moved, by jumping the same. To start the game, after the various groups of disks are in position as has been described, the first volley is fired simultaneously by the two opposing batteries. The army causing the most havoc gains the privilege of the next move. If any part of a disk is covered by a disk of the enemy, it is immediately removed from the game. All movement of the. disks, is done by groups, andafter the first volley, the players alternate in firing.

The use of the smaller disks 8, is for machine gun fire, and the groups of smaller disks are either used to shell the trenches of the opposing enemies or to repulse attack, mostly the latter. The machine gun groups in the second trenches may only be used when the enemies occupy the first trench, and as all machine gun groups are considered stationary, they may be used by the possessor of a captured trench.

The intermediate medium disks 7 which are des gnated infantry, are maneuvered as follows. The charging is done by one group at a time. YVhen charging place the disks on the firing steps and then over the top into the space between the trenches adjacent the transverse center which is designated No Mans Land. This will give the defenders in the opposite trench an opportunity to re pulse the attackers. If the required five disks comprising the group do not reach the trench without being eliminated from the game, those who do remain in the trench until their number is swelled to the desired five, in which case, the trench is won,

and a new group is formed. The defending disks remaining 111 the captured trenches are held as prisoners and may be freed by the trench being recaptured. Of course they are likely to be eliminated by the fire of their comrades.

What is designated asthe reserves, in the beginning of the game are the two infantry groups of disks 8, that are disposed in the second trench behind the first firing trench. These reserves may be brought forward at any time provided there are at no time more than ten medium sized disks in the foremost trench. The same rules apply to the capturing of the second trench as the first, and the side capturing both the enemys trenches wins the game,

This game will form very amusing, as well as fascinating game apparatus, and one which will at the present time hold the interest. The maneuvering of the various disks requires considerable skill, on the part of the players. The top of the rectangular shaped board is preferably covered Copies of this patent maybe obtained for with green cloth, so as to facilitate the movement used in jumping the disks. The pockets 5 formed in the opposite ends of the board, are to receive the disks when not in use, so as the same will not be in danger of becoming lost. 7

From the above description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, it is thought that a clear and comprehensive understanding of the construction, operation and advantages'of my invention may be had, and while I havev shown and described the device as embodying a specific structure, I desire that it be understood that such changes may be made in said structure as do not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed. 7

Having fully described my invention what I claim is new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A game apparatus including a game board having spaced parallel transverse grooves in one side thereof, raised portions adjacent the marginal end edges of the said side of the board, and a plurality of different sized disk shaped game pieces movable on said board as specified. v

2'. A, game apparatus including a game board having spaced parallel transverse grooves in one side thereof, one of the side walls of each groove being offset to form a step, angular members extending parallel from adjacent the end edges of said side of the board, and a plurality of different sized disk shaped game pieces movable on said vboard as specified.

3. A game apparatus including a substantially rectangular shaped game board having spaced parallel transverse sets of grooves on opposite sides of the transverse center of one side of said board, said grooves having the side walls thereof adjacent the center offset to form a step in each groove, angular members extending upwardly from adjacent the edges of said side of the board, said board having pockets formed therein beneath the angular members, and sets of different sized game pieces movable on the board as specified.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature hereto.

RALPH WALTER.

five cents each. by addressing the Commissioner of Iatents,

Washington, D. C. 

